In 1933, President Getulio Vargas legalized gambling associated with artistic shows, starting the opening of casinos in Brazil - they reached more than 70. Luxury venues such as Copacabana Palace and Urca, in Rio de Janeiro, became famous and lived moments of glory; others, simpler, even generated more than 40 thousand direct jobs, not counting indirect ones. In 1946, by Decree 915, gambling was banned in the country, with Marshal Eurico Gaspar Dutra as President. This was 74 years ago, and all casinos were closed.
The ban on gambling directly affected business owners and the hotel chain, which accounted for huge losses, not to mention the thousands who lost their jobs while games of chance continued to proliferate on a large scale, such as the jogo do bicho and the various lotteries, in addition to Mega Sena, created in 1996, we have Lotomania, Quina, Lotofácil, Lotomania, instant lotteries, Duplo Sena, Timemania, Lotogol and Loteca. It is a lot of gaming, but the kind that does not benefit the economy. The 1946 ban is costing Brazil too much. The delay in legalizing the activity causes a huge loss of revenue and perpetuates unemployment.
What could happen with the reopening of casinos? According to the Diário do Comércio, of the Trade Associations of the State of São Paulo, Brazil has a marginal position in world tourism: seventh place in the Americas, 52nd in the world.
The country receives little more than 6 million foreign visitors annually, a very modest number; Miami alone receives more tourists than Brazil. Hong Kong has 29 million visitors; Bangkok, Thailand, 24 million; London, 20 million; South Africa went over 10 million. World tourism has been growing at expressive rates in recent years, but in Brazil it shrinks.
The opening of casinos would provide a great incentive to Brazilian tourism and would provide a strong increase to the hotel sector. Let's see what happened in Las Vegas.
In the arid desert of Nevada, a few decades ago, the first luxury casino hotels appeared; today, this is one of the North American states that collect the most, having created countless direct and indirect jobs.
The world changed. I am pleased to see reports showing that Economy Minister Paulo Guedes is in favor of reopening casinos in resorts, opening the doors to attract luxury tourism. Also the Mayor, Rodrigo Maia; the Minister of Tourism, Marcelo Álvaro Antônio; and Embratur's president, Gilson Machado, are favorable.
This information is auspicious and will certainly serve to alert governors and all segments of society about the absolute need to reopen casinos to encourage tourism and to take Brazil out of the marginal position it occupies on the world tourism map.
Divonsir Borba Cortes Filho
Commercial Lawyer
Gazeta do Povo
